California Awards $103 Million In Behavioral Health Grants To 23 Counties In Criminal Justice Realignment Initiative

On June 8, 2017, the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) awarded grants totaling $103 million to 23 government entities that plan to launch new mental health and drug rehabilitation programs. The funding is through Proposition 47, a criminal justice realignment initiative; to apply for the funding, the jurisdictions first had to downgrade six low-level drug and theft crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Proposition 47 directed the state to share 65% of savings due to the downgraded offense severity with the BSCC, which would then direct the funding to grants for mental health and substance-use disorder . . .